St. Maarten officials: Confession in U.S. couple slaying

Oct. 3, 2012
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by USA TODAY

by USA TODAY

PHILIPSBURG, St. Maarten (AP) - A security guard detained as a suspect in the slaying of a South Carolina couple in St. Maarten has confessed to his involvement in the crime, officials in the Dutch Caribbean country said Wednesday.

Meyshane Johnson, a Jamaican living in St. Maarten, was arrested two days after authorities found the bodies of Michael and Thelma King stabbed to death in their vacation home on Sept. 21.

Public Prosecutor Hans Mos said in a statement that the 28-year-old admitted "being involved in the violent deaths" of the couple as well as the robbery of a restaurant.

Mos did not provide details of the confession and authorities have not disclosed a possible motive in the slaying of the couple from Mount Pleasant, South Carolina.

A judge ruled Wednesday that there was enough evidence to continue holding him in pretrial detention pending further investigation.

A second suspect has also been arrested and is being questioned. His identity and details of his alleged involvement have not been released.

"We have to work out in detail exactly what happened and who else is involved," said Solicitor General Taco Stein. "The first suspect confessed to being involved in the murders, but we will not release any details because we need that information to remain confidential so we can work the case."

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